Flagstaff.



G. F. GOLDEN.

FLAGSTAFF APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1909.

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p from is a blade or tooth 21, which is forced ED STATES PATENT ornicn.

CHARLES FREMONT GOLDEN,

01 LA FAYETTE, INDIANA.

FLAGSTAFF. I

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Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Application filed January 12, 1909. Serial m5. 471,849.

To all whom 'it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. GoLoEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Fayette, in the county of Tippecanoe 5 and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flagstafls, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

- My invention relates to'signaling devices,

and especially to flag stafi's.

It has for its object the production of an improved staff for railway approaching sig nal work.

1 Briefly stated, the invention comprises a tubular metal standard or pole with a solid pointed foot adapted to be driven into the ground, and provided with means to hold it against turning, detachable and adjustable supporting means for a flag, and further supporting means fora lantern.

The various features of invention involved will sufficiently appear from the following detailed description, and the claims appended thereto.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the complete structure with a flag and lantern both in Fig. 2 is a side view upon an enlarged scale of a holding'device for the foot. Fig. 3 is a side view-on an enlar ed scale of the upper part of the structure, s owingthe details of the devices for supporting the flag and lantern. Fig. 4 is-a view from the left of Fig. 1 showing details of the locking means for the flag arms. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a portion of the staff showing the socket for the arms. Fig. 6 is asection on the line mm of Fig. 3 looking downward,

and Fig. 7 is a side view of a modified form of locking device.

Referring to the drawings, the stafi 1 consists ofa metal tube, fitted with a solid foot 2, pointed as shown at 3 so that it may be readily driven into the ground. In order to assist .in planting the foot, as well as to I prevent its turning when planted, I provide the lateral stud 20 forming a foothold shouldered at 22, and preferably upset and into the ground after the point 3 has entered to a sufficient distance, and acts as a steadying device to prevent turning.

Spaced apart a distancecorresponding to the width of the flags to be employed, are two or more slots 29 (best shown in Figs. 4 and 5) cut through both sides of the pole, butdeeper on one side than the other, so as toproduce in effect an inclined lower edge 29. The two arms 10 and 11 are made of substantially the same length as the flag, and have key or wedge-shaped butts, adapted to enter the slots 29. The lower edges of these are inclined to match the inclination in the edges of the slots, so that when they are forced in and held against retraction, a joint is produced that is at once solid and simple. Upon the end of each key butt is secured a pin 16 or 17, for locking purposes. Sliding on the staff are a pair of locking rings 14 and 15, having laterally spaced openings 31 adapted to receive the pins 16 and 1 Each slot 29 is provided with a vertical extension 30 of sufiicient width to pass the pin on its key. Above the uppermost slot I provide an opening whose axis is parallel to the axes of the slots 29, and through this opening I pass the stem of an arm 5 shouldered at 6, threaded to receive a nut or washer 8, and provided with a terminal hook 7 for the lantern or other night signal 9.

When'flagsof different widths are to be used, the arms are set accordingly, the upper slot being used for the, upper arm, and either one of the lower slots for the lower arm. Such variable position of the lower arm is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

As the rings 14 and 15 slide freely upon the staff, they may be used interchangeably to secure the butts of the arms in any of the slots;

The operation of this device is almost obvious fromthe drawings. In order to detach the arms, the rings 14 and 15 are lifted so as to disengage the pins 16 and. 17 when the butts 12 and 13 can be withdrawn from the slots. The staff can be used as a night signal staff only, by simply leaving off the arms. In assembling, each ring 14 or 15 is lifted, the corresponding butt 12 or 13 inserted, and the ring dropped over the pin 16 or 17, whereby each arm is securel locked in position.

The flag is secured upon the arms by means of a suitable tubular hem or pocket slot through its on each edge, portion of the at 27 to show the arm 11.

are permanently attached to the arms to receive retaining cords or tapes 32-33. I

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the pin 27 is mounted on the ring 14, and the opening 28 is roduced in the butt of the arm. This ena les me to dispense with the extensionfslots 30. The use of this arrangement orthe other, is optional, both making efiicient joints.

The top of the stafi is finished with a ca 4, which closes and protects the interior, an the outside may be coated if desired with any suitable material, such as nickel, or co per. If the staff is made of iron, it may e japanned, cop er plated, or otherwise finished soas to be weather-proof and capable of withstanding the somewhat severe usage to which appliances of this character are subject, I

Having thus described my I claim and'desire to secure ent of the United States is:

1. A portable knock down signal standard comprismg a metal tube having a transverse walls, a detachable metal su porting arm having a butt adapted to. sli e in and out of said slot, and means car-- ried upon the tube to lock the butt therein, together with a flag fitted to the supporting invention what by Letters Patarm.

2. A portable knock down signal standard comprism .a transversely s'lbtted metal tube, a detacha le metal arm having its butt shaped to slide in. and out of the slot through the tube and a locking ring on the tube ada ted to engage the short projecting en in position, together with a flag fitted to the supporting arm. I

3. A portableknock down signal standard comprising a metal tube with transverse slots through its walls s aced 2. art from each other, a pairof rigi arms tted to be received in said slots, locking means for the arms, and a flag with holding means toengage both arms.

4. A portable knock down signal standard comprismg a metal body, detachable parallel metal arms spaced apart from each other and rigidly attached to the body with means to hold a flag extended between them, a foot adapted to be forced into the earth or other medium, and means carried by the body to prevent the staff from turning when thgis placed in position.

knock down portable signal standard.

comprising the following instrumentalities: a staff or body, transverse tapering slots in said body, a pair of rigid detachable arms having their butt ends tapering to fit tightly in said slots, a pair of rings sliding on the stafi with means to engage the butts of the arms to prevent their withdrawal from the slots, means at the ends of the stafi to prevent the loss of the rings therefrom, and a flag formed of flexible material with securing means wherebyit may be attached to and stretched between the parallel arms.

6. A portable knock down signal standard comprising a metal stafi with a plurality of transverse slots spaced apart y from each other, rigid detachable arms fitted to be received interchangeably in any of said slots and locking means for the arms when in position, whereby the staflf may be adapted to hold flags of varying slzes.

I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FREMONT GOLDEN; Witnesses: ALICE E. 'KNELLING,

SARAH E. SMITH. 

